A three-year-old Hong Kong boy has
died after contracting a strain of
influenza that previously was only found in birds, the Health Department
said Wednesday.
The flu type, which has never been known to strike humans, has
been given the codename of H5N1, Director of Health Margaret Chan
told reporters.
The three-year-old boy died in Hong Kong's Queen Elizabeth
Hospital in May, she said.
Blood tests showed none of 27 people known to have come into
contact with the boy had been infected, and evidence so far
suggested this was "an isolated incident," she said.
"Results from the USA and Netherlands showed that the virus was
influenza A of H5N1 strain. This is the first time in history this
virus was isolated in a human being," the statement said.
The WHO has been advised of the discovery.